Measuring tape



l July 7, 1931. A. LANGSNER `MEASURING TAPE Filed Nov. 7, 1927 2 'Sheets-Sheet l July 7, 1931. A. LANGsNl-:R

MEASURING TAPE Filed Nov. 7, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 finishing cover for Patented July 7, 1931 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE .ADOLPH LAN GSNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 EUGENE DIETZGEN CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE MEASURING TAPE Application led November 7, 1927. Serial No. 231,442.

Y This invention relates generally to measuring tapes and particularly to the construction of the cases thereof,vand has for its object the simplifying of the construction and the cheapness of the cost of manufacture thereof.

It is also contemplated to provide a simpliiied measuring tape case that may be quickly and easily assembled and yet have all of the strength and durability of the more complicated prior` constructions.

vAmong its other objects the present invention has in view the provision of an outer or there be held without the use of stitching, clamping or other similar fastening means, or without the unprotected edges of the covering becoming loose.

Another object of my present invention resides in the construction whereby the outer or finishing covering material for the case is mounteduponthe case and held in position thereon by the use of the mounting element of the drum yupon which is wound the tape line.

With the above and other objects in View i as will be apparent this invention consists in 'the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein A. Fig. l is a side elevation, with parts broken away, of accordance with my a measuring tape case constructed in present invention; j Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along line Fig. 3 is a similar fragmentary section, enlarged to illustrate the joint between the [parts of the measuring tape case and the se- I curing of the outer covering thereon;

j Fig. 4f is a view/.of the central partof the case looking from the right side of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is aside view of a modified form of .my construction;

i ner in which the overlapping sheets of finishing material Ineet at the junction of the two the measuring tape case that vmay be quickly placed on the case and case members and cover the joint therebetween.

The present invention is a continuation in part of my patent application, Serial #130,- 219, filed August 19, 1926.

Heretofore it has been customary to telescope the two parts of a measuring tape case over the drum and other parts of the device and hold these parts in such positions by means of additional or other elements. The present invention contemplates providing the overlapping or telescoped portions of the case with beads, which when the parts of the case are telescoped snap into self-holding interlocking engagement. Thus the case is assembled aiid held by a means forming a part of the case itself and the necessity of other elements functioning' for this purpose is done away with.

Where the case has been provided with an outer cover of leather or other material it has been the practice to form such outer cover in two sections and to stitch the kadjoining edges of these sections one to the other. This has been unsatisfactory because of its eX- pense as a manufacturing operation and the fact that it does not present a finished or attractive appearance. This invention, while utilizing a cover made in two sections, does not require the stitching thereof. It provides acover which is placed on the case as a part of the assembling thereof, but which is so held in place that there are no exposed edges to become loosened, and a pleasing and finished appearance is presented. This is accomplished by means of a finishing strip secured over theadjoining edges of the cover and held at its ends by the eyelet or frame carrying the roller over which the tape line passes when removed from the case.

Reference being had more particularly to the drawings, l0 designates the two telescoping parts of a measuring tape case. The portions of these parts l0 that are designed to telescope are provided at or adjoining their edges with inward beads or grooves l1. When the parts 10 of the case are telescoped these beads 1l snap into interlocking selfassembled.

p p scoped portions of is removed from thecase. vrIhe flanges of this `eyelet l engage the terminals of the nish- This construction produces a groove in the rim of the case which is utilized for holding the cover 12 on the casing. As shown in the enlarged view Fig. 3 the adjoining edges 12 of the cover 12 are curved and seated in the groove formed by the outer bead ,11.7 In order to retain the. edges 12 or" the cover 12 in this groove a inishing strip 13 is glued or cemented to the cover 12 over the edges 4vl2fythereo.

The outer surface of the strip 13 is convexed while the inner surface is generally flat except in the center Where it is provided with a. ridge 14. This ridge l4projects toward the groove created by thenuter bead 11 and covers or hides the edges 12 vo1 the cover 12.

An eyelet or frame 15 embraces the telej the parts 10 of the case at the opening ythroughfwhich the tapeline 16 ing-strip '13'pand' notonly hold them inplace but protect "and conceal them.r y

At itscenterthe sides ofl thecover 1 2 are 'apertured for the mounting-of the drum 17 upon-which the tape line 16 is wound.. This drum 17 is inserted for rotation in one side 10 of the case' and is provided witha lateral lip v18 whichv bears upon the edges ot the cover 12 surroundingthe opening in the side 10. Thus the lip' 18 of the drum. 17 centrally secures one side of the cover' 12 in place on the land :extends from Ving 20 pass-es.

case.

A hub 19 forms the axle of the drum 17 one side v10 to the other side 10 of the case.` Adjoining the outer tace of thel drum 17 the hub 19 is grooved for cooperation with the drum while the oppo- `siteend has a friction tit with the flanged Vbushing 2O inserted through the side of the case and cover l12. The fla-nge 21 of this bushing-20 is located on the exterior of the case and cover 12 andbears firmly against the edges of said coverv around the opening in the case through which the'iianged bush- In this manner the other side of the'cover 12 is securely held in place on i the case.v

In additional-it Vwill be seen that this washer .'20 inthe form of a cup is fastened over Athe v`leather or other gfinishing cover 12 holding the leather to the metal case. This cup 2O also'serves as a bearing-tor the sleeve which istastened to the center post and tightened tothe caseby friction tit.

B `my toregoing constructio-n it will be stretch bearingsection ofthe reel or drum. Though eliminate theus'ual'rmg washer on ltopand the usual cup bearing washerL on'the bottom,

addition eliminate the'labcr of assembling the same, still'atthe same time-I showing.

heid-by vare l ing overlying and riding upon the cover.

vide a smoother running and more durable reel or drum since the two bearing parts of the drum are ruiming on leather.

In the construction of my invention shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 I show a modification of a casing in which the two sections 22 and 24 of .the leather or clothlinishing cover for the metal casings 26 and 28 may -be arranged to overlap at the cupped or dished flanges 30 and 32 of 'the casing sections 26 and 28'respectively. In this construction, as in Figs. 1 to 4, the sections 26 and 28 are provided vwith-'peripheral cupped or dished flanges which nestingly overlap circumferentially of thecasing sectionswhere they meet to provide a `peripheral groove. The lleather or cloth coverings 22 and'24 are stretched over these sectionsy in the manner disclosed and the free edge 32 ot the leathercovering22 lies snugly within this peripheral grooveand is coveredV by the overlying scarfed edge 34 of the leather or cloth covering 24, the two overlapping portions being Vadhered .together by cement or other adhesive 36. Byv means of thisl construction the peripheral groove ofthe metallic casing section is entirely filled and covered by the overlapping leather `or cloth ornamental coverings 22 and 24 and there is no need for anl additional finishing ystrip of leather or other material such as; is

shown in the drawings elsewhere in-Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.

In Fig. 7 is will be noted that the lsection 24 has its free end lying flush and glued to the adjacent leather section 22 thereby making a very neat annular joint forI the cover'- ing ot the metallic casing sections.

Fromfthe yforegoing vit 'willbe clear that the present .casing may be assembled and covered in what maybe termed a single operation. No unprotected edges are :present in the cover nor isthere-a-ny unsightly stitching Not only lis the appearance of these devices improved by the present invention but thecost of manufacture is reduced without sacrilicing any ofits durability or strength. f Y f l l thus described my inventiomwhat "Having securefby Let- I'claim as new and desire to ters Patent is:

1. A measuring tape having a'case with center openings therein, a winding drumand support bushing lrotatably mounted in said openings, anda`cover on saidcase, one side of said covervbeing held to the ycasing in part bythe dru'm and the other side, being bushing, said drum and 'bush- 2. A measuring tape having a case with center openings in its sides,7a coverforfsaid4 case, ay winding rotatably mounted in said openings, each being provided with a lateral flange on `the exterior of the case, said liangesoverlying and riding uponsaidy cover. i

drum' and support bushing 3. A measuring tape casing comprising two casing sections, having intertting annular flanges forming a hollow tape chamber, said casing sections being formed with opposed openings one of which is larger than the other, a drum in one of said sections, a bushing supported by the complementary section and an ornamental covering for said casing sections, said covering comprising a sheet of iinishing material overlying the face of one of the casing portions and being held in place by a portion of the drum, and said other casing section being covered with a sheet of iinishing material held in position by a portion of the bushing, said drum andk bushing having overlying portionsbearing upon and riding on the finishing material.

4. A tape reel having a casing, a drum ro-H tatably mounted within the casing for supporting the tape, means for rotating the drum,

and an ornamental cover for the exterior face of the casing, said drum having an externally projecting part overlying and riding directly upon the central parts of the cover whereby to hold same in position.

5. A tape reel having a casing for the tape, an ornamental cover of resilient material for said casing a drum rotatably mounted within the casing for supporting the tape, means for rotating the drum, a hub arranged axially at the center of the drum and attached to the front of it and a sleeve attached to the rear of the hub for supporting it, said casing and its cover having openings for receiving said drum and sleeve, said drum and sleeve having flanged portions overlying said cover at the said openings and bearing upon said cover whereby to cushion the rotatable drum and sleeve in the casing.

6. A tape reel having a casing formed of two parts and having centrally located opposed apertures, a drum seated in one of said apertures and having an overlying shoulder extending over the edges of the opening in said casing, a sleeve axially carried by said drum and having a flanged portion overlying the edges of the opening in said other section, and cover portions for said casing sections having their inner edges covered and held in position by the overhanging portions of said drum and sleeve, said drum and sleeve being thus resiliently supported in Vplace by riding upon the inner edges of the covering.

7 A tape reel having a casing formed of two sections, one of which has an annular, centrally located, outwardly extending boss forming an opening, the other having a centrally disposed'cup-shaped depression, said cup-shaped depression having a central opening registering with the opening in the other section, cover material stretched across said sections, the inner edges of the covering material terminating substantially at the edges of the opening in the boss and depression and a winding drum mounted in the opening of said boss ,and having an external shoulder overlying and yriding upon the cover material, said winding drum carrying a sleeve having a corresponding shoulder overlying and riding upon the edge of the cover materia-l in the depression.

8. A measuring tape having a case with central openings therein, said openings being arranged in f registration in opposite sides of the case, a cover for the sides of the case having central openings conforming with the center openings in the case, a bushing having an outwardly extending iiange arranged in one of -said central openings with the flange overlying and riding directly upon aninner edge of the cover, a winding drum comprising a piece of sheet metal, suitably conigurated to provide an outwardly extending iiange, rotatably mounted in the casing and connected to the bushing and arranged to fit within the remaining central opening oi. the case with the outwardly extending flange overlying and riding upon the inner edge of the cover to hold the same in place.

9. A tape measuring case comprising two casing sections having laterally extending peripheral flanges congurated to provide hollow beads and adapted to interlock to provide a peripheral groove in the casing when the members are interlocked, covering members for said casing portions having their free ends secured in said peripheral groove, a finishing strip overlying the edges of the covering members and rotatable means mounted in the case and having portions arranged to overlie the covering members to secure saine to the casing portion at points spaced from said peripheral groove.

l0. A measuring tape casing comprising a case having central lateral openings and a peripheral groove therein, a rotatable member mounted in said openings, cover pieces for the case having their edges secured in the peripheral groove and held to the sides of the casing adjacent said central openings by said rotatable member, said member having shoulders cverlyiiig portions of said cover pieces at said openings whereby to provide a resilient support for said rotatable member in the casing.

l1. A measuring tape casing comprising a case having a central opening, a rotatable member mounted in said opening and a cover piece for the case, said cover piece having its peripheral edge secured to the case at the periphery thereof, and held to the sides of the case adjacent said-central opening by said rotatable member, said member having outwardly extendingportions overlying and riding upon the edges of said cover piece at said central opening, whereby the same is cushioned in said casing by the resilience of said cover piece.

l2. A measuring tape casing comprising a case 1ra-ving reentralflateral openings anda pe- "ripheral groove, a'frotatable 'Winding member Lmoimtedini `*said openings, Zoover lpieees 'for the Casingyisadpieees having their edges Secured-in the peripheral groove and being held to the sides'othe caseby said rotatable member, said member havingfoutwardly'extending portionsoverlying and -ridirig upon the edges of said @over piece abend-central opening,wvhe1-eby ithesame is cushioned in said easing by `che resilience of said Cover piece, and a 4`1r1'i'shi-n,f'strip overlying the edges of'said'oover :pieces in saidperipheral v f groove.

"In Witness whereof., I have Ahereunto :sub-

^ 'scribed my'n'ame.

,.ADQLPH LLANGSNER. 

